UK halts intelligence sharing with US for boat strikes in Caribbean, Eastern Pacific: Report

ISTANBUL

The UK has stopped sharing certain intelligence with the US on drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, a service provided for years to help the American Coast Guard with interdictions, CNN reported Tuesday.

Sources indicated the suspension, which began more than a month ago, stems from the belief of British officials that recent lethal US military strikes against the boats are illegal under international law.

London is reportedly concerned that continuing the intelligence exchange would make it complicit in the US attacks.

The US operations are part of the Donald Trump administration's counter-narcotics campaign, which has spread from the Caribbean to the Eastern Pacific since September.

Trump signed an executive order designating cartels as foreign terror organizations on his first day in office.

Since the campaign began in September, at least 19 attacks have resulted in 75 deaths.

CNN said the British Embassy in Washington, the Pentagon and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.